diff --git a/api/compose/django/server.sh b/api/compose/django/server.sh
index 9c7709516..7729bd326 100755
--- a/api/compose/django/server.sh
+++ b/api/compose/django/server.sh
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 #!/bin/bash -eux
 python /app/manage.py collectstatic --noinput
+python /app/manage.py migrate
 gunicorn config.asgi:application -w ${FUNKWHALE_WEB_WORKERS-1} -k uvicorn.workers.UvicornWorker -b 0.0.0.0:5000 ${GUNICORN_ARGS-}
diff --git a/changes/changelog.d/1879.enhancement b/changes/changelog.d/1879.enhancement
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1c477a80b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/changelog.d/1879.enhancement
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Apply migrations on API container start (!1879)